7. February 2025
Matthias Wagener
Back in mid-2024, one of the opening lines in our blog post about our donation to Correctiv was: “The climate crisis is on everyone’s mind.” But looking at today’s media landscape, that urgency seems to have faded. The climate crisis is getting lost in the noise of political developments—developments that, in themselves, raise serious concerns.
That’s exactly why we believe in small, visible actions. Instead of relying on vague carbon offset schemes, we focus on sustainable social initiatives that have a real impact. In 2024, our team selected two donation recipients: Correctiv and the Bärenherz Children’s Hospice in Leipzig.
“The Bärenherz Children’s Hospice in Markkleeberg near Leipzig was founded in 2002. Its funding is only partially covered by health and nursing care insurance—the majority comes from donations.”
(Source: Bärenherz Foundation)
This is about direct, human support—providing care and comfort for children facing the most difficult circumstances. In a society that often feels increasingly divided, we see this as a way to actively demonstrate solidarity and responsibility.
What do a children’s hospice and an investigative journalism project like Correctiv have in common? To us, both are sustainable investments in social cohesion.
Since 2020, Vast Forward has been deeply engaged in sustainability—week after week, in our co-working sessions, in over 100 Sustainable Fridays, with external experts, industry initiatives, and concrete actions such as Green IT and data hygiene. Our sustainability strategy must go beyond carbon offsetting—we focus on what is visible, achievable, and genuinely impactful in the long run.
The events of the past few years have made it clear: Sustainability is about more than just environmental and climate protection. Transparency, education, and social justice are just as essential for securing the future of our democratic society.
Our donations to the Bärenherz Children’s Hospice and Correctiv are our small contribution—not because they are the obvious choice, but because they matter. Carbon offsetting alone is not enough for businesses to fulfill their responsibility.
Sustainability means looking beyond “green” symbolism and taking real responsibility. We remain committed—together as a team, with clear values and a strong, sustainable strategy.
Further reading:
📌 Vast Green Impact Report 2023: Impact Report
📌 Critical Analysis of Carbon Offsetting: DOAJ-Study
📌 EU Ban on Greenwashing & Misleading Product Claims: EU-Parliament
📌 More About the Bärenherz Children’s Hospice: Bärenherz Leipzig
📌 Correctiv – Independent Investigative Journalism: Correctiv
